Despite taking nearly all operations online as of April 2020, KickStart Venture Services continues to bridge the knowledge gap for startup founders by launching an interactive series of monthly webinars titled “KickStart Presents.” The series is intended to support startups by providing direct access to specialized experts who provide helpful training and advice across a range of topics. Each month, KickStart connects with service providers, community partners and startup leaders to develop useful, timely content for startups and their founders. Though the series launched recently in late April, KickStart has seen the webinars quickly gain traction with both startups and partners. To date, KickStart Presents has shared expertise from the SBTDC, Grant Engine, First Flight Venture Center, Wilson Sonsini, Hatteras Venture Partners, Hutchison PLLC, and Osage University Partners. We have also showcased founders and leaders from successful UNC startups. To further share this content, all webinar registrants receive access to a video recording of the event, as well as supplemental resources recommended by the speakers. Topics covered in the series so far include government financing opportunities, best practices for founder’s equity, and tips for navigating tough economic times. Each webinar gave participants the opportunity to think critically about their companies and how they can continue to leverage their and others’ expertise to drive innovation.
“Everyone’s comments were valuable. I wish I would have heard this webinar when I started my company six years ago,” was one founder’s response following KickStart’s recent webinar on founder’s equity.
Realizing the importance of providing virtual programmatic content during COVID-19, KickStart recruited experts with a range of experience to participate in KickStart Presents. The series’ inaugural webinar, “Startup Fundraising: Government Financing Opportunities and Maximizing Application Success” focused on highlighting and encouraging non-dilutive funding opportunities. Our speakers shared valuable strategies and advice for startups to find and acquire several substantive grants, including applying for funding from the National Institute of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. In “Startups Supporting Startups: Advice on Success and Persistence During Tough Economic Times,” founders from UNC startups Redbud Labs (Ricky Spero) and Carpe (David Spratte) discussed their strategies for adjusting operations and finances during the pandemic. Panelists also discussed the best ways for startups to maintain communication with their employees to ensure safe working conditions, as well as engage with potential investors virtually to pitch their ideas. In “Founders’ Equity: Making Gains While Maintaining Your Stakes,” Michael Ramsey (UNC serial entrepreneur and founder of Caliper Life Sciences, 908 Devices Inc, Genturi Inc., & Codetta Bio Inc.) shared his insights on starting university spinouts, and how best to navigate distributing equity to both investors as well as initial company employees. Joined by panelists with experience in assessing corporate capitalization tables as well as investing in academic technology, the discussion revolved around how best to identify and compensate those who join founders in the early stages of their technology commercialization.
KickStart Presents’ most recent webinar, “From Idea to IND: Tips for Successful Early Product Development” was in partnership with Parexel Biotech, a global biopharmaceutical CRO. Geared towards founders developing therapeutics, this webinar gave an overview of the regulatory process involved in drug development. To date, it was one of KickStart’s most well received webinars, with over 50 registrants who received valuable insights into the steps needed for filing a successful Investigational New Drug application. To ensure the information provided during our webinars is useful to startups, the team welcomes suggestions for potential future webinars from founders and partners. To submit a suggestion, or if interested in participating in or attending an upcoming KickStart Presents webinar, please contact our Operations and Program Manager Judy Prasad at judy.prasad@unc.edu.
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